AnnaSophia Robb, as Carrie, and Austin Butler, as Sebastian, star in "The Carrie Diaries," based on the book by Candace Bushnell. The series airs Mondays at 8 p.m. on the CW Network.

AnnaSophia Robb, as Carrie, and Austin Butler, as Sebastian, star in "The Carrie Diaries," based on the book by Candace Bushnell. The series airs Mondays at 8 p.m. on the CW Network.

Photo: Contributed Photo/The CW Network, The CW

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Opening night of the New York Television Festival kicks off with the red carpet world premiere of "The Carrie Diaries" on the CW Network. Left to right are Amy B. Harris, executive producer, AnnaSophia Robb (who portrays Carrie Bradshaw in the series), and executive producer Candace Bushnell. less

Opening night of the New York Television Festival kicks off with the red carpet world premiere of "The Carrie Diaries" on the CW Network. Left to right are Amy B. Harris, executive producer, AnnaSophia Robb ... more

Photo: Contributed Photo/Timothy Kurate, THE CW

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NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 22: (Exclusive Coverage) Amy B Harris, AnnaSophia Robb, Candace Bushnell and Entertainment Weekly's Tim Stack attend the world premiere of "The Carrie Diaries" at the New York Television Festival at SVA Theater on October 22, 2012 in New York City. (Photo by Kevin Mazur/WireImage) less

NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 22: (Exclusive Coverage) Amy B Harris, AnnaSophia Robb, Candace Bushnell and Entertainment Weekly's Tim Stack attend the world premiere of "The Carrie Diaries" at the New York Television ... more

Apr 01, 2006; Toronto, ON, Canada; Dressed in a pencil sharp skirt and leopard print stilettos, Candace Bushnell, graced the stage last night at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre as one of the featured guest ... more

Photo: Steve Russell/Toronto Star, Toronto Star/Newscom

Candace Bushnell dishes on 'The Carrie Diaries'

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The year was 1984. Big earrings and fluorescent clothes were in fashion. "Dynasty" and "Dallas" were the top-rated TV shows, and everyone was humming the notes to the hit song "Footloose," by Kenny Loggins.

Meanwhile, in a small town in suburban Connecticut, 16-year-old Carrie Bradshaw was beginning her junior year of high school.

Carrie's story is told in "The Carrie Diaries," a new TV series on the CW Network Mondays at 8 p.m. It's based on the 2010 book of the same name, written by Candace Bushnell. The international best-selling author is especially known for "Sex and the City," which became a hit TV show on HBO, airing from 1998 to 2004. The series was based on her "Sex and the City" column for the New York Observer, which Bushnell started in 1993.

In "The Carrie Diaries," viewers get to see how Carrie's early years led her to Manhattan, where she grows into the fashionable young woman fans know and love from "Sex and the City." The ups and downs of dating, as well as her gal-pal friendships, are big parts of both series.

Bushnell, who travels between her homes in Manhattan and Roxbury, recently spoke by phone from her 1,500-square-foot Victorian farmhouse in Connecticut.

"My agent always wanted me to write a memoir, but I didn't want to. Instead, I thought it would be fun to take Carrie Bradshaw back in time from the way we know her on `Sex and the City.' No one knew what her personality was like when she was young," said Bushnell, who is 54 and single. (She's divorced from Charles Askegard, a principal dancer with the New York City Ballet.)

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Candace BushnellShe's 54, single, and has a home in RoxburyGetting started: Bushnell grew up in Glastonbury and moved to Manhattan at 19. She attended Rice University and New York University. In 1993, she created a column for The New York Observer called "Sex and the City." The column, which was bought as a book in 1995, was sold to HBO as a series in 1996.Bushnell's Books: "Sex and the City" (1996), "Four Blondes" (2000), "Trading Up" (2003), "Lipstick Jungle" (2005), "One Fifth Avenue" (2008), "The Carrie Diaries" (2010), "Summer & The City" (2011).The Carrie Diaries:" Mondays, 8 p.m. on the CW Network. To view prior episodes, www.cwtv.com/shows/the-carrie-diaries. See Candace in person: Bushnell will be a featured speaker at the third annual Conversations with Extraordinary Women on April 18 at the Matrix Conference & Banquet Center, 39 Old Ridgebury Road, Danbury. 203-743-5565.

Bushnell, who grew up in Glastonbury, said she had a great childhood.

"Connecticut is a really beautiful state. When I was young, we had so much to do. My friends and I would ride our bikes, go for hikes in the woods and swim in a stream called Roaring Brook. I was a tomboy. All the girls were tomboys. There was no way to avoid it," she said.

While Bushnell said she didn't play a role in choosing the "Carrie Diaries" cast, she raves about AnnaSophia Robb, who plays Carrie.

"I love her. She's so amazing. We talk on the phone and when I'm on set, we sometimes go out together," Bushnell said.

In the new series, the young Carrie lives with her father Tom (played by Matt Letscher) and 14-year-old sister Dorrit (played by Stefania Owen). Her life revolves around her tight-knit group of friends. Her father gets her an internship in Manhattan, where she has exciting adventures and meets intriguing people.

Those who've seen photos of Bushnell as a teen may notice she bears a resemblance to Robb. It's not by accident. "When they were looking to cast the role of Carrie, they looked at pictures of me when I was 18," Bushnell said.

In the TV series, Austin Butler plays Sebastian Kydd, Carrie's bad-boy love interest. "Sebastian reminds me of many of the guys I dated in high school. There was even a Sebastian. When Sebastian broke up with Carrie, I almost started crying. It brought back memories of every time I've been in a breakup."

According to Bushnell, "The Carrie Diaries" sends a message: Be who you want to be.

"I loved writing `The Carrie Diaries' and `Summer and the City' (the 2011 sequel). They were a blast," said Bushnell, who plans to write another book in the Carrie series. "In the third book, Carrie is 18 and her father won't give her any money so she has to take crazy odd jobs. This is the kind of thing you had to do back then."

As Bushnell talks, she's brought back in time to when she was 19 and had just moved to Manhattan from Connecticut and was trying to succeed as a writer.

"I worked really hard. I had a little portfolio and went to see editors. My rent was $150, I had four roommates and all were aspiring Broadway actors. It was an adventure. I want Carrie to have that kind of adventure."

BUSHNELL TODAY

While she said she loves to cook, one place she likes to dine at when she's in Connecticut is the Mayflower Inn & Spa in Washington.

"Candace has been a friend to the Mayflower Inn & Spa and is a regular visitor here. We always look forward to her visits to The Tap Room. She often orders our burger," said John Trevenen, general manager at The Mayflower.

"Candace has a great eye for style and photography. In October, she attended our most recent opening for the Diane Arbus exhibit. Having been a huge fan of Candace's earlier work even before I knew her, it has been wonderful to learn about the younger years of the smart and sassy Carrie Bradshaw. I am a huge fan of `The Carrie Diaries,' " said Kathryn McCarver Root, gallery owner.

For the past year, Bushnell has been riding dressage (a form of horse training) in Litchfield. "It's very isometric and all about balance. You have to go with the horse but be able to resist the horse," she said.

Bushnell said her writing process involves "making notes. At the end of the day, I have pages and pages of notes. The next day, I get up and go to the computer. I try to start writing when the sun comes up," she said.

So, what's next on Bushnell's to-do list?

"Organizing my closets," she said. "Every now and again you have to bite the bullet and organize."

Bushnell will be a featured speaker at the third annual "Conversations with Extraordinary Women" April 18 at the Matrix Conference & Banquet Center, 39 Old Ridgebury Road, Danbury. 203-743-5565.

Getting started: Bushnell grew up in Glastonbury and moved to Manhattan at 19. She attended Rice University and New York University. In 1993, she created a column for The New York Observer called "Sex and the City." The column, which was bought as a book in 1995, was sold to HBO as a series in 1996.

See Candace in person: Bushnell will be a featured speaker at the third annual Conversations with Extraordinary Women April 18 at the Matrix Conference & Banquet Center, 39 Old Ridgebury Road, Danbury. 203-743-5565.